Philly walking tour

It's been a long, hot day but I've certainly seen a fair bit of Philadelphia. My morning started with doughnuts and coffee from the bakery across the street. I took a look for things to do in the city and found a free walking tour. I made my way on the subway to the Old City and just caught the tour group before they started out. The tour was an epic 4.5 hours long including a lunch break and went about 4 miles so there was a fair amount of stopping and starting along the way and loads of insightful details. Our guide was quite amusing with plenty of funny tales. We took in such sites/locations as Society Hill, St Peter's Church, Magic Gardens, Italian Market, Gayborhood and JFK Plaza. The tour didn't take in some of the typical sites which was definitely a good thing as I discovered parts of the city I wouldn't have otherwise known about.

When we finished at Reading Terminal Market I think everyone was pretty tired. I walked back to the Italian Market where I brought some fruit and veg to last for the next couple of days. It was super cheap compared to the supermarkets. I kept walking all the way back to the apartment where I immediately started cooking and hydrating. It's a little less humid here but still very warm.

This evening I met up with Andrea again and we went to a dive bar in the city centre. Very good to see her and get to chat some more and nice to have someone to go out with.

City Hall

St Peter's Church

Magic Garden

With Andrea

Drinks and video games

What a fun Friday night in Philly. I'm quite exhausted and ready for bed. The bus to the city was a little late arriving but once here I made the way to my home for the weekend easily enough. It's a nice terrace house in a pleasant enough part of south Philadelphia. I found it through the Air B&B website but to all intense and purposes it's much like I'm couchsurfing here but paying for the privilege. My host, Steve seems very well organised and friendly, the fridge is stocked with drinks and there are plenty of maps and information on things to do in the city.

Once I'd gathered my thoughts I set off to walk to the city centre. I reckon it took a bit over 45 minutes pretty much in a straight line using the tall buildings to guide my way. Shortly after I arrived I received a text from my good friend Andrea to arrange to meet so headed over to Reading Terminal Market. We soon met up and I had a proper Philly Cheesesteak. After chatting a while we walked north and east a fair distance to a bar called Barcade. As the name indicates it's a bar and an arcade with old school video games to play as you drink. We had some drinks, chatted and played some video game, mainly failing quite quickly. We took the subway back to the city centre and then went our separate ways although plan to meet up again tomorrow night. It was so good to see her again and we had much catching up to do. It was after 11pm when I got back and managed to figure out which key fitted which lock to get me into the apartment.

I need to do some planning for tomorrow as I work out what to see and do throughout the day but that can wait until the morning.

Air B&B apartment, Philadelphia

Next stop Philly

I'm sat on the bus just waiting to leave from New York. I got a lift to the ferry with Lisa via dropping David and Charlie off. It meant I was here early but it was nice for me to be able to sit, relax and have something to eat and drink before I headed out on the road. I should be in Philadelphia by around 1pm.

Toni

With Lisa

Governors Island

I spent the morning further organising the CD collection and taking CDs from their jewel cases and filing them along with the booklets and back sleeves into file pockets. I reckon I did at least 250 throughout the morning making them more compact. I'm quite happy with just how many I got through and nearly the entire collection is now done and reconciled in with those done prior to my visit.

After lunch I took the bus down to the ferry terminal and once I reached Manhattan walked the short distance to the ferry to Governors Island. It's a very beautiful park site and was very pleasant to walk around with a nice breeze around the edge of the island. I found the hammocks and spent about an hour just chilling in one of those. It was pretty quiet on the whole island which made my visit all the more relaxing. I took the 5pm ferry back to Manhattan then the subway to Canal from where I walked down Broadway and back to the ferry terminal. I must have walked a fair distance throughout the day as my feet are pretty sore and I'm feeling very tired. 

I have enjoyed my time on Staten Island. Like my stay in Brooklyn it was good to see another part of New York and not just Manhattan and the volunteering worked out really well for me. Tomorrow I take the short bus trip down to Philadelphia and will stay there over the weekend.

Governors Island

Fort Jay, Governors Island

Hammocks, Governors Island

The High Line

After a relatively long night's sleep I woke up quite early. I saw Lisa before she headed out to work, had breakfast and then started painting the remaining woodwork. It probably took me longer than it should but I reckon I did a good job. Once done I showered and went back to organising the CD collection. They want the CDs out of the jewel cases and into plastic sleeves so I made a start on that before lunch. 

I headed out for the afternoon taking the bus to the ferry terminal then the ferry to Manhattan. I got the subway to Penn Station, walked to the bus terminal where I collected my Greyhound ticket for Friday then walked down about 20 blocks to The High Line. It really is a neat project and seems to have helped reinvigorate the area around it. I walked to the far south end then back up to the very top. From there I meandered across through Chelsea, into West Village and then Greenwich Village before getting the ferry back to Staten Island. 

The ferry was delayed and I ended up being on the same one as David so was able to get a lift home with him when we got to the island. We had something to eat then he took Charlie and I to Ralph's for ice cream, something of a must do when on Staten Island. I've just found the MLS All Star game on TV. Interestingly they are playing Bayern Munich. Should be worth watching.

Manhattan from the Staten Island ferry

The High Line

The High Line

More painting

Today has been all about painting. This morning I went out with Lisa to drop Charlie off at day camp and she brought me back to the house with a bit of a tour including a stop off at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Grotto.   I'm sure not many tourists would be able to find that.

She had the day off so we started painting the woodwork and window frames and I painted the forth wall and added an extra coat of paint to one of the other walls. I was working through till 5pm with only a short stop for lunch and the den is almost done now. I still need to paint some of the woodwork and one more window frame but that won't take long.

I'm tired after a long day on my feet and up and down a ladder so plan to just stay in tonight, put my feet up and hopefully find a film to watch on TV.

Honey

Delilah

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Grotto

Painting, Boardwalk walk and CDs

Today was half work, half play. I painted the third den wall as planned this morning. It looks pretty good to me but there's still the final wall to go and the woodwork. David was working from home so he could take his Dad to the airport and the housekeeper was also here but as I was working in the den I didn't see much of them.

After tidying up and having lunch I headed out on a bus to the Franklin D Roosevelt Boardwalk. I walked the length of it and along Ocean Beach Pier then turned around and made my way back. I didn't go on the beach this time although it did look nice and was really quiet. I found a bus to bring me back towards the house and made it here by about 5.30pm. A good afternoon spent out in the sun.

David took Charlie out to a friend's birthday party so whilst I was waiting for Lisa to get home I started to sort their CDs into alphabetical order, one of my planned tasks and something I find very satisfying. I almost completed the job but really need to spread out as there are lots to organise. I should be able to get the job finished pretty quickly. Lisa is at home tomorrow so we will complete the painting and see what else needs doing.

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

Ocean Beach Pier

Painting

I was woken early again by rain but also by one of the cats seeking my attention. I managed to stay in bed until my alarm went off then once I was ready to face the world went out with Bonnie to walk the dog.

The whole family were heading out to take Bonnie to camp so I had the house to myself for most of the day. Lisa helped move some stuff out of the den and ensured I had everything required for painting including an old t-shirt to wear. I had a lovely Skype chat with Mum and Dad then I washed down the walls and started taping ready to paint. I finished my preparation in time for lunch. 

I managed to get two of the walls painted during the afternoon. I started to find the light tricky as it got later so stopped by 5.30pm, cleaned everything and took a shower. I found it quite stressful as until the paint was dry I wasn't sure whether or not I'd been doing a good job or ruining someone else's home.

The family arrived home later than planned about 7.30pm. I'd already eaten but managed a little of the Chinese takeaway they'd ordered. I can probably paint a third wall tomorrow then will need help to move some heavy furniture to finish off the room and get started on the skirting boards and windows. I'm going to investigate tonight what there is to do on Staten Island in anticipation of having an afternoon out.

Settling in

I had a pleasant first day on Staten Island. The morning started with me being woken by a very heavy shower. I was the first up but Lisa was soon up and too chatting and made a great cooked breakfast.

I headed out on shopping errands with Lisa and Charlie and it had started to get warmer. The trip helped me learn what is where. The island is a lot larger than I thought so there is a fair bit I could discover. After we returned to the house I put on my laundry then headed out for a walk. I went down to the water and along to Snug Harbor Cultural Center. The park was quite large and surprisingly very quiet given it was a Saturday. I walked back inland and up a steep hill then looped back around to the house. I was out for about an hour and a half so got my exercise. 

I set about finding somewhere to stay in Philadelphia for when I move on, watched a football friendly on TV with David and his Dad then the whole family went to a local Tex Mex restaurant. I've been chatting a bit tonight and am ready to get started with some painting tomorrow when the rest of the house are out taking Bonnie to camp.

Lisa and David's house, Staten Island

View to Bayonne Bridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snug Harbor Cultural Center

Staten Island

I moved out of the farm and on from country life and am now staying on Staten Island a short distance from Manhattan. The morning was spent packing and saying my goodbyes before myself and two other volunteers were given a lift to Albany. The trip to New York on the Go To bus was somewhat back to basics but manageable for 3 hours and just $15.

I was a bit out of my element back on the busy streets and it took a while to get my bearings. When I finally did I headed down to Battery Park on the subway and to the port to catch the free ferry to the island. I was picked up by David and driven a short distance to the house shared with my host contact Lisa. She was soon home with their daugher, Bonnie aged 11. Also in the house are Charlie, 6 and David's father who is just visiting from Chicago dropping the kids back after a visit. They also have a very friendly dog and two cats. They've been so welcoming. We chatted as they made homemade pizza and they are happy for me to join them for meals and trips out and to play a full role in their household if I want to. I've got so much space with the top floor of the house to myself with a bedroom, living room (with TV), kitchen and bathroom. After supper we discussed some of the projects Lisa may want doing by me during my stay. It's so good to have a place I can really spread out in private and plan ahead for the rest of my trip.

Common Sense barn

Goats